Other Sites

In time for its second anniversary, iStopMotion turns 1.5 and gains the long awaited and much anticipated support for high resolution movies and digital still cameras. The new Noise Reduction feature increases the image quality when working with video sources such as the Apple iSight. A special introductory offer for iStopMotion 1.5 HR is running now through October 30th, 2004.

"With high resolution support, iStopMotion has become a truly professional tool," said Oliver Breidenbach of Boinx Software. "Users that don't need high resolution benefit from more speed and richer features set."

The high resolution output is available with the new iStopMotion HR license which sells at US $349 during an introductory period that ends Oct. 30th 2004. After the introductory period, the license will sell at US $399. Current DV license owners can upgrade at US $299.

The iStopMotion 1.5 HR license also includes the new Still Camera Plugin so users can use digital still cameras as well as high resolution video cameras. The license key enables the use of digital still cameras for time lapse recording and stop motion animation in excellent image quality. iStopMotion uses the Apple Image Capture Framework to import pictures from connected cameras, with some cameras even supporting remote capture. iStopMotion also includes a Still Camera Assistant that lets users find out if their camera is supported prior to purchasing a license. (See the iStopMotion website for more details.)

The Still Camera Plugin sells as an option at US $20 for iStopMotion 1.x DV license key holders.

Aside from the usual bug fixes and performance improvements, a new Noise reduction feature has been added. If used, iStopMotion takes more than one frame at the same time and averages these frames to remove "color speckles," an effect found in many video CCD chips. This improves the image quality of, for example, the Apple iSight dramatically.

Boinx iStopMotion 1.5 is available for download immediately. Current owners of a valid DV key for version 1.0 or later can continue to use their keys with iStopMotion 1.5 DV. New iStopMotion 1.5 DV keys are available at US $39.95 through Kagi. The iStopMotion 1.5 HR key, which supports output of high res video, is available for US $349 until Oct. 30th 2004 and will sell for US $399 after that introductory period. The Still Image Capture Plugin is available as an add-on at US $20 for DV license owners and is included with the iStopMotion 1.5 HR license.

For more information, visit the Boinx Software website, and check out the Applelinks review of an earlier version of iStopMotion.

(0) Trackbacks ï